Role Of Sympathetic Nervous System In The Development Of Early Organ Damage In Obesity:an Emerging Target For Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$544,534.00
Summary
Young people with obesity often have no signs of cardiovascular disease but their organs, such as the heart, the kidneys and the blood vessels present early evidence of damage that can, in time, progress to confer cardiovascular risk. This study will look at the potential beneficial effect of a drug, by itself or in association with a low calorie diet, in reversing the progression of organ damage in young obese subjects.
A Dietary Intervention In Gestational Diabetes To Reduce Child Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,715.00
Summary
Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) whose blood glucose levels (BGL) are not well controlled have a higher chance of giving birth to large babies. These babies are at high risk of becoming overweight children and adults. Preventing child obesity therefore requires appropriate intervention during pregnancy complicated with GDM. This study will determine the ability of specific dietary advice (aimed at reducing maternal BGL) to reduce the risk of large babies in a typical ante-natal setting.
Effectiveness Of A Skill-building And Price Reduction Intervention For Promoting Healthy Eating
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$489,989.00
Summary
Many Australians consume diets that place them at risk of obesity and ill health. Research is required to identify effective ways of helping people improve their diets. This study will investigate two approaches to doing so: firstly, by providing people with increased skills in budgeting, selecting and preparing healthy foods; and secondly, by reducing the prices of healthier foods.
Obesity, Overweight And Hospitalisation: Identifying Targets For Interventions To Prevent Adverse Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,755.00
Summary
Obesity is an important and rapidly increasing health problem, especially in indigenous communities. The proposed project investigates how obesity affects the risk of hospital admission in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, including providing evidence regarding the nature of the hospitalisation, the cost and whether specific groups are at a higher risk of obesity-related hospitalisation. In doing so it aims to identify targets for intervention to reduce obesity-related hospitalisation
This study combines sophisticated molecular techniques with state-of-the-art biochemical and physiological analyses to determine how gut hormones regulate satiety. By utilising unique conditional and germline KO mice , this research will make highly original and internationally competitive contributions to the understanding of the regulation of satiety and energy expenditure. Knowledge as to the causes of lack of satiety will be of great benefit in the search for novel treatments for obesity.
Testing The Behavioural And Psychosocial Mechanisms Underlying Geographic Variation In Metabolic Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,457.00
Summary
This study seeks to assess the mechanisms that explain the link between residential area features and the metabolic syndrome (obesity and high blood pressure, lipids and glucose), related to cardiometabolic diseases. There is more metabolic syndrome in disadvantaged areas but the reasons for this have not been empirically established. We will evaluate behavioural and psychosocialmechanisms that might independently and jointly explain the association between place and metabolic syndrome.
Reconceptualising Health Promotion: The Role Of Values, Ethics And Evidence In Obesity Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,103.00
Summary
Obesity and overweight are public health priorities. Population-level programs, campaigns and regulations are required to prevent and reduce obesity. How should these interventions proceed? What is effective? What is ethical? How can we avoid doing harm? At present, we do not know. By studying current interventions in detail, and working with experts and practitioners in health promotion and ethics, this project will develop a new framework to guide overweight and obesity intervention in future.
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is characterised by symptoms such as obsessions, overeating, rage attacks, skin picking, irregular sleep breathing and temperature control, and impairments in learning and understanding social cues. Evidence from brain studies suggest that such symptoms maybe related to a deficiency of oxytocin, a natural occurring hormone derived in the hypothalamus. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of oxytocin nasal spray on improving behaviour and physical health in PWS.
Central Neural Mechanisms Underlying The Effect Of Endocannabinoids On Body Weight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,793.00
Summary
Obesity and its associated pathologies of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, stroke, predisposition to some cancers and infertility in women no longer needs to be justified as a major health issue in modern societies. In fact it is quickly becoming recognised as the major threat to world health. Recently, the anecdotal evidence for increased food intake, particularly the craving of high carbohydrate, high sugar foods, associated with the use of marijuana has been put into a therapeutic cont ....Obesity and its associated pathologies of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, stroke, predisposition to some cancers and infertility in women no longer needs to be justified as a major health issue in modern societies. In fact it is quickly becoming recognised as the major threat to world health. Recently, the anecdotal evidence for increased food intake, particularly the craving of high carbohydrate, high sugar foods, associated with the use of marijuana has been put into a therapeutic context. Specifically a cannabinoid receptor antagonist, rimonabant (currently undergoing trials as Accomplia) has become a central player in the race for an obesity therapy because of its effects in blocking the brain receptors that would normally respond to cannabinoid like compounds in the brain that tend to increase food intake. Despite the trials that are underway in Europe and the USA many of the central actions of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the brain, the so-called endocannabinoids are very poorly understood. This series of experiments utilizing the best technologies available will address basic questions relating to the brain pathways involved and even the extent to which weight loss associated with the administration of these drugs to rats and presumably humans is dependent on the reduction of food intake or the burning of energy in a process called thermogenesis. These are essential pieces of information if this type of compound is to be considered as a serious contender in the search for an obesity therapyRead moreRead less